Kothari, who will replace Advani in the Asian Snooker Championship in Thailand from May 8 to 15, raced to a 2-0 lead, but Advani fought back and caught up at 2-2. Kothari forged ahead again after taking the fifth frame, but Advani took the sixth to draw abreast 3-3.

However, it was a Kothari show all the way thereafter as he took the last three frames to seal a memorable victory over the billiards